Aston Villa aren’t short of centre-backs with Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause, but Steven Gerrard may need to dip into the transfer market this summer as Hause has an uncertain future.
The 26-year-old initially found himself behind Mings and Konsa in the pecking order earlier but is now playing second fiddle to January-signing Chambers too, so Hause may need to leave to get more opportunities.
Noel Whelan believes Gerrard could benefit from adding competition to his defensive ranks and should look to strengthen in the summer transfer window. He told Football Insider: “They’ll need to strengthen if they want to crack that top six – and I think Gerrard will be looking down the spine of the side.
“Another centre-back would allow them to play three at the back and would give even more competition to the likes of Konsa and Mings.” Hause has made 7/30 Premier League appearances this season (23%), amassing 395/2700 minutes of playing time (15%).
Villa have been linked with Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, Burnley’s James Tarkowski, Rangers’ Connor Goldson and Liverpool’s Nathaniel Phillips among others, so time will tell who they end up with.
Mings and Konsa is likely to be the defensive partnership Gerrard sticks with next season, so he’ll need a player happy with a supporting role if Hause does end up being sold. The 26-year-old does have three-and-a-half years remaining on his deal, however, so there is a chance he could remain.
In other news, Noel Whelan says he’s ‘sure’ Aston Villa will sign Philippe Coutinho
